Mixed martial arts gains official recognition as a sport

In August 2012, the MMA Union, headed by Fyodor Yemelyanenko, received a certificate of state registration that authorizes the organization to arrange MMA tournaments in Russia. Source: Vadim Zhernov / RIA Novosti.

Russia has become the first country in the world to recognize mixed martial arts (MMA) as an official sport. The MMA Union, headed by Fyodor Yemelyanenko, has been granted official status and the right to hold championship fights.

During a meeting
of the Russian Ministry of Sport, an agreement was reached to include MMA on
the National Sports Register. According to Vadim Finkelstein, vice president of
the Russian MMA Union and president of M-1 Global, MMA will likely be
supervised by Yuri Nagornykh. Deputy Sports Minister Nagornykh was part of the
commission that gave MMA its official status.

“We collected all
the requisite documents last year,” Finkelstein said. “We were expecting the
commission to convene and decide on the MMA status, and it finally held a
meeting. There were about 10 members on the board, and our union was elected
out of three MMA organizations to run this sport. In principle, an agreement
was reached and there are only some minor issues to address.

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In August 2012,
the MMA Union, headed by Fyodor Yemelyanenko, received a certificate of state
registration that authorizes the organization to arrange MMA tournaments in
Russia.

“Now that we have
official status, the state will offer us support, as it does all other sports
associations,” said Finkelstein. “We are the first country in the world to recognize MMA as an official
sport. I believe that many countries will follow suit. We have not only been
recognized in Russia, but we have also become part of the international
federation.” On Sept. 30, Moscow will host an international congress with
participants representing 25-30 countries. On Nov. 14, St. Petersburg will play
host to the MMA Open European Championships.

The declared
objectives of the union are to develop, promote and organize MMA sporting
events in Russia. Unlike professional fighters seen on TV, the tournaments
arranged by the Russian MMA Union will require fighters to wear leg protection
and gloves, as well as a helmet if desired.

Unlike professional fighters seen on TV, the tournaments will require fighters to wear leg protection
and gloves, as well as a helmet if desired. Source: Vladimir Astapkovich / RIA Novosti.

Kamil Gadzhiyev,
as general producer of Fight Nights and vice president of the Moscow MMA
Federation, believes that state accreditation will take MMA to a whole new
level.

“This is another
big step forward in developing mixed martial arts in Russia,” Gadzhiyev said.
“The accreditation of MMA as a sport will bring more people into our sport. All
our efforts to promote this sport have been supported by the state. My area of
responsibility is Moscow. We will do our best to develop the sport in the
region. We will have additional incentives now. I think that, by promoting MMA
in the region, we will encourage this sport on a national scale.”

Gadzhiyev also
believes that youth MMA must be the next phase in MMA development.

“First, we need
to finalize all of the affairs concerning adult MMA and then turn to youth MMA.
As of today, most MMA fighters represent various combat schools – wrestling,
boxing, sambo, judo, kickboxing, etc. This work has just started and it will
bear fruit in about 10 years,” said Gadzhiyev.

“We are planning
to build a Martial Arts Academy and start developing youth sports,” Finkelstein
said. “We have a goal – to find talented fighters such as Fyodor Yemelyanenko
to represent Russia adequately in the international arena. It is largely to his
credit that we have gained international recognition.”